Explosive device.



R. C. CRAWFORD.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.

APPLICATION man 0m13.191s.

Q VEN-rca Wl'rNEsserTs g; W, WM@

' II. c. CRAWFORD.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. Ia IsIs.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

srarns rarnnr ernten.

UFUS C. CRAWFORD, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TJOHN 'I'. MOYER, OF OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten oct. 23, 1917.

^ Application tiled October 13, 1915. Serial No. 55,612.

To a# Itlf/wm 'it may concern ot' Mcleesport, in the county ot'Allegheny and Stateotl Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usetulImprovement 1n ltxplosive Devices; and l do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention pertains to explosive devices for use in warfare, andrelates par ticularly to torpedoes.' It is an objectot my invention toproduce a torpedo in which much of the complicated machinerynowordinarily employed will be done away with. It is another object otmy invention to produce a torpedo which will be relatively cheap toproduce, and which will be capable ot traveling at a high speed in astraight line. lt is another object ot' my invention to provide atorpedo with a simple and sate means for ln'eventing the possibility ofe plosion of .its high explosive charge. except after the torpedo hasbeen launched. 1t is another object ot* my invention to provide atorpedo with means tor causing its ex` plosion at the end of its travel,regardless of whether it does-or does not hit the object aimed at. Andother and further ob- `iects of my invention will appear troni thefollowing specification taken in connection with the appended claims.

I have described, by way of example, in the followingl specification,and shown in the accompanying' drawings, *one form of explosive device(':onstructed in accordance with my invention. It is to be understood,

y however, that my invention may be embodied in other forms, and thatchanges may be made in the constructional'features of the devicedescribed and shown. without exl ceeding the scope ot the invention. asde fined in the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through atorpedo constructed inaccordance with my invention. the section being taken as on the line 1-1o't' Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the. same on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the manner ot mounting thedirecting vanes;

Fig el is an enlarged section taken on the, line lh-e1v of Fig. 1,looking in the direction of the arrows,` the arming ring being shwn.

in full lines in its unarmed position, and in dotted linesI in its armedposition;

Fig. 5 is a section takcnon the line 5 5 o'lf F ig. Ll,` looking in thedirection ot' the arrowf;

Fig. (3 is an outside view of part of the head portion ot t-hc torpedo,showing the inspection opening and the means for setting the. arminglring;

Fig. 7 is a section taken 'on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and.

Fig. S is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, looking in the directionof the arrows.

Like reference characters refer to like parts thrmlghout the followingspecification and the sevt 1al figures ofthe accompanying drawings.

Referring now Imrticularly to Figs. 1-3, the construction of the torpedoshown in the drawings includesl a head 10 which is screwed onto acentral threaded boss 11 of a cylinder 12. the exterior surface of the'latter forming a continuation ot' the head 10. The cylinder 1Q is openat its rear end, 80 to receive the front part of a second cylinder 1?.the latter having a front wall 14 which separates the cylinders fromcach other. Loiatcd centrally in the rear part of the cylinder 13, is atube 15, which terminates at its troiitend in a [lange 16 which closelywithin the cylinder 13. thereby forming` a chamber 17. at the front partof the cylinder 13. The rear end ot' the cylinder l?) is closed by anend plate 1S. which has an opening therein for receiving the open end otthe tube 15.

The torpedo described herein is primarily intended to'be tired from amortar through the air into the water, completing its travel in thelatter. To this end. the chamber 17 '-fand the tube 15 are filled withcombustible material. such as a relatively slow burning explosive torinstance, gunpowder. The firing of the mortar will ignite the powder inthe tube 15. The burning of the powder in the tube 15 and chamber 17will result in a strong stream of the gases of combustion issuing fromthe rear end of the tube 15, such stream continuing to issue until thepowder in the chamber 17 is exhausted. The stream ot gas issuing fromthe tube 15 will propel the torpedo rapidly through the air and water.In order to aid in maintain ing the torpedo in a straight line, andthereand tend vto press the vanes 19-outward.

lThe cylinderv 13 is provided with slots for receiving the vanes 19, thevanes being Ya width such that they may be pushed in,

against the action of the springs 22, until their outer edges are flushwith the cylinder 13 (Fig. 1, full lines). When the torpedo is to belaunched, the vanes 19 are all pushed in; and the torpedo, in thatcondition, is inserted into the mortar, the vanes being thereby held inplace. As soon as the torpedo leaves the mortar the vanes 19 spring outVinto thg operative position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.v

Referring now to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the head 1() is provided with acentral cylindrical chamber 23,in which is slidably mounted acylindrical block 24 having a central firing pin 25.

. against movement by a latch, tobe hereinafter described; but, when itis not so held, it Will travel forward in the chamber 23' as soon as thetorpedo is suddenly checked by striking an object.' When the block thustravels forward, it strikes a detonating cap vor the like 26. The cap2,.when fired, lignites a charge' contained in a pair, of restrictedpassages 27 which terminate in bores 28 formed in the head 10 andextending to- Ward the" rear of the sane. which is filled with a highexplosive, such as guncotton or thelikc, isv provided with two tubes 29,which are disposed so as to form continuations of the bores 28. In thebores 428 there are provided miniature projectiles A30, Whichvare in theform of cartridge*j filled `vvith fulminate or the like and havingpriming caps 30a at their front ends. 'When Ithe cap 26 ignites the"charge in the passages`27 apd bores 28, 'the miniature projectiles 30are shotforward iito vthedtubes 29, Where their priming caps30fimp,actagainst pins 31., thereby' causing thenexplosion of the fulminate. Thisexplosion of' the projectiles shatters the tubes 29, and effects theexplosion of the vhigh *explo-sive charge in the cylinder 129 In ordervto prevent the charge in the cylinder 12 from being explodedaccidentally, an arming ring 32 is provided (Figsa 1, 4 and 5). The ring32'is rotatably mounted inan annular groove formed in the rear face oitnthe head 10, fand is provided Withholes 33 "of the corresponding size tothe bores 28. It

' will be seen that the miniatureprojectiles 30 can only be firedintothe' tubes'29 when the ring'32 is in such'position that lthese holesl33 are placed opposite. the ends of the bores' TheA block 24 isnormally held The cylinder 12,`

A 28. flhe ring28 is normally heldh out of this position, that is, isheld in a position in which the holes 33 are not placed opposite theVbores 28, by' aA rod 34 which extends lengthwise of the torpedo andenters a small- 7;', hole in the ring. I' I Mounted on a pin 3.5,carried by the 'headf 10, is a rod 36, on which is mounted acoilspying37 such rod and spring beingv located ina recess 38, -formed in thering32jvvith 75 the spring 37 engaging against one-ndyvvall of the slot.The ring 32 is provided with an inclined slot 39, which receivesthebentver. end 40 of a latch pin 41 vvhich. is'rad'i'ally e movable inthe head 10,' and the end ofso which engages in anl annular groove 42formed in the firing block 24. It Will be seen that when the rod 34 isWithdrawn from its holein the ring 32, the spring 37A will cause thering 32 to rotate into the position 85 indicated inf; dotted Llines inFig. 4. In this position, the holes 3,3 are in alinementdvith the bores28. Also, by the rotation of the ring, the pin 41 will be withdrawn'from the slot 42, thereby releasing the firing block.

In 'order to' effect the Withdrawal of they. rodj34 to release the ring32, such rod is mounted in a tube 43 (Figs. 7 4and 8) which terminatesin a chamber 44 formed in the end-plate 18.A This chamber contains anexplosive charge, and communicates, by a restricted passage 45, with therear end of the tube 15. At the rear end. of the chamber 44, the rod 34is provided with a head i 1.6. It will be seen that, as soon as thepowder in the tube 15 isfired upon the torpedo being launched, thecharge in the ass'age 45 and the chamber. 44 will be ignlted, causingthe head`46 to be driven out from the chamber 44,' and .'the4 rod 34conse- 105 out, it Will fire the charge inthe tube 48 and passages 47and 27, thereby causing 'the explosion of the contents of the cylinder12. 120

Normally, the ring 32 forms a barrier between the tube 48 and thepassage 47 5 but,

when the ring 32 is in its armed positlolr, a hole 49 thereinkbrings thetube and the pssages into communication.

The head 10 1s formed with an opening, 50 which discloses a portion ofthe edge off` the ring 32, such lopening being closedhva lremovabletransparent cover 51.l At this i point, the edge of the ring 32 isformedwith .130

a hole 52 for receiving a pin or the like, by means of which the ring 32may be rotated. The position of the hole 52, as seen through thetransparent cover 51, vill thus always indicate whether the ring 32 isin its armed or in' its unarmed position. Then it is desirable to setthe ring 32, this can be done by removing the cover 51, pulling therring around to thev position shown in the full lines in Fig. 4, and theninserting the rod 34 irito its hole in the ring 32, the charge havinfirst been placed behind the head 40 of the rod 34.

yThe operation of Athe form of torpedo shown and described'is asfollows:

y Prior to insertion in the mortar, the ring 32 is in the position shownin full lines in Fig. 4, in which condition the firing block 24 islocked against movement, the tubes 29 are cut ofi from Vthe bores 28 andthe pas` sage 47 is cut 4oli from the tube 48. The

`torpedo is thu unarmed, and, in that co'n-v` dltion, is inser ed in themortar, the directing vanes 19 being first pressed in. When the mortaris fired, the torpedo is driven out therefrom, and at thesame time thecharge in the tube 15 is ignited, causing a stream of gas to issue fromthe tube 15 and thereby propel the torpedo, the vanes 19 springing outinto their operative position. As soon as the charge in the tube 15 hasbeen fired, the charge in the passage and chamyber 44 `will be exploded,causing the rod 34 to be Withdrawn from the ring 32, and therebypermitting the ring to snap over into position Vshown in dotted lines,in Fig.. 4. In this position the tubes 29 are in communication -With thebores 28, the tiring block 24 is freed, and the tube 48 'is incommunication with the passage 47, the torpedo being Vthus completelyarmed. When the torpedoA strikes the 4.object aimed at, the shock willcause the firing block 24 to snap forward in the chamber 23, whereby itsFin 25 will detonate the cap 26, and causethe miniature projectiles 30to be fired against the pins 31, thereby exploding the high ex-` plosivecharge inthe-cylinder 12. Should the torpedo fail to strike' the objectaimed at, the powder in the chamber 17 will,f.when nearly exhausted,ignite the charge in the tube 48 and passage 47, thereby exploding thecharge in the cylinder 12 just about when the torpedo has come to the'end of its travel. It maybe that the torpedo will, at this time, beneafr enough to the object aimed at, to do damage; and in any case, the'source of danger created by an armed torpedo floating at will on thewater islemoved.

It will be seen-that the torpedo described above is relatively simple inconstruction and cheap of manufacture. The use of complicated propellingmachinery is done away with; and there is practically nothing to get outof order, The torpedo is very safe for storage and for handling prior tofiring; and an added advantage is that it explodes on the completion ofits journey, and thus doesnot become a floating danger to vessels of allkinds.

In describing the form of torpedo shown herein, it has been referred toas being fired from a mortar or the like. ever, be simply droppedfrom aheight onto the object aimed at. In this case. there present theadditional advantage that the issuinggases cause the torpedo to traveldownward much fasterthan it would if merely impelled by gravity, so thataim is rendered more accurate, and the deflecting effect of air currentsis considerably lessened. lVhen the torpedo is to be used in this way,and in other ways which would entail the torpedo striking the water withgreat force, it may be necessary to modify the tiring mechanism in sucha way as to prevent its actuation upon the impact of the torpedo withthe water, but permit such actuation when the torpedo strikes the objectaimed at. This and other changes in the embodiment which I have chosenas illustrating my invention, are within the scope of such invention,what I claim being:

1. An explosive device comprising a body arrying an explosive charge,and having a chamber therein for receiving combustible material, saidchamberhaving a rearwardly directed opening for permitting egress of thegases of combusti-on, means for effecting the explosion of said charge,and means for rendering Said exploding means inoperative` saidlast-named means being releasable by the ignition of said combustiblematerial.

2. An explosive device comprising a body carryingr an explosive charge,and having a chamber therein for receiving combustible material, saidchamber having a rearwardly `directed opening for permitting egress oiing said charge, a movable member for normally maintaining'saidexploding means in an inoperative condition. and an explosive chargeconnecting with said chamber for material is ignited.

3. An explosive device comprising a body carrying an explosive charge,and having a chamber therein'for receiving Combustible material.saillpehamber having a rearwardly directed opening for permitting egressof the `gases of combustion, means for effecting the explosion of saidcharge, a longitudinally movable member normally preventing theoperation of said exploding means. said body being provided with achamber for receiving a portion oif'said member and connect-ing withsaid first-named chamber. and an explosive charge in said secoi'ld-namedchamber. whereby said member is moved when said second-named charge isignited.

"moving said member when said combustible the gases of combustion, meansfor explodc It may, how- 4. 3Anexplosive device comprising` ra body ingwith said chamber, means for effecting the explosion of said charge, anda movable member normally preventing the operation otsaid explodinglmeans, ,said body being formed ivith a charge-containing chambersurrounding a part of said member, said last-named chamber communicatingWith said tube.

5. An explosive device comprising a body having a chamber therein forreceiving combustiblematerial, said chamber having a rear- Wardlydirected opening for permitting egress ofthe gases or' combustion, anexplosive charge contained in said body, a second charge adapted whenignited to effect the explosion of said first named charge,impactoperated means for effecting the ignition of said second namedcharge, and ignition means'betvveen said chamber and said sec'-ond-named charge disposed so as to eiect the ignition of saidsecond-namedv charge substantially when the burning of said com,

i bustible material is completed.

6. An explosive device comprising a body havino a chamber therein 4forreceiving combustibile material, said chamber having a rearwardlyextending lopening for ermitting egress of the gases of combustion, anlexplosive charge contained in said body, means for effecting theexplosion of said charge' substantially when the burning ofv saidcombustible material is completed, and

automatically releasable means for normally prevent-ing the operation'ofsaid last-named means.

7 In an explosive device,` a body having a chamber' therein lforreceiving an explosive charge, a head, impact-operated means carried bysaid head for exploding said charge, releasablemeans for normallypreventing communication betiveen' said head and said body and automaticmechanism for operating said releasable means, said means being adaptedto be released at a predetermined time b`y a supplemental explosivecharge in said body portion.

8. In an explosive device, a body having a chamber therein for receivingan explosive charge, a head, impact-operated means carried by said headfor exploding said charge, releasable means for normally preventing'communication between said head and said (body, and a supplementalexplosive charge in said body portion for automatically releasing saidlast-named means when said device is launched.

9. In an explosive device, a body havingtherein-a chamber for receivingan explosive charge, and' having a bore for receivino` a movableexplosive member, said member eing adapted to be exploded by asupplemental charge after said device has reached its object, releasablemeans for preventing communication between -said bore and chamber..

and automatic mechanism for operating said releasable means, saidlast-named means be ing released by a secondsupplemental explosivecharge.

10. An explosive device comprising a body having achamber thereinformeceiving an "explosive charge and having/ja bore therecharge forcausing movement of said inember, impact-operated means for ignitingsaid last-named charge, and means automatically releasable when thedevice is launched for normally preventing the operation of saidlast-named means, said releasable means,

being operated by asupplemental charge adapted to be exploded by saidcombustiblematerial.

12. An explosive device comprising a body having a chamber therein forreceiving an explosive charge, and having a bore for re-` ceiving amovable explosive member, an explosive charge for causing movement ofsaid member, impact-operated means for ignitiiig said last-named charge,releasable means for normally preventing the operation of saidlast-named means, and explosive means for' releasing said preventionmeans upon they device being launched.

13. An explosive devi'ce comprising a body having a chamber thereinfori'eceiving an explosive charge. and having a' bore for receiving a.movable explosive member, a charge `for causing movement of saidmember, .impact-operated means `for igniting.

lli

said last-named charge, releasable means for y normally preventing theoperation of said last-named charge, means contained in said chamber anddisposed in alinement with said bore, for causing the explosion if saidmember, and releasable means for normally preventing communicationbetween said bore and said chamber, said means being adapted to beoperated by a supplemental explosive charge at a predetermined time.

MyAn explosive device compiising` a body having a chamber therein forreceiving an explosive charge and having a. bore for receiving a movableexplosive member, a

charge for causingmovement of said meniber, impact-operated means forigniting said last-named charge, releasable means for normallypreventing the operation of said igniting means, means contained in saidchamber and disposed in alinement with said bore, for causing theexplosion of said member, releasable means for normally preventingcommunication between said bore and said Chamber, and a supplementalexplosive charge for releasing said first and second-named preventionmeans upon the launching of the device.

l5. An explosive device comprising a body carrying an explosive charge,and having a chamber therein for receiving com bnstible material, saidchamber having a rearwardly directed opening for permitting egress ofthe gases of combustion, means for effecting the explosion of' saidcharge, a locking member normally preventingr the operation of saidexploding means, said body being provided with a chamber for receiving aportion of said member and connecting with the rst-named chamber, and anexplosive charge in said second-named chamber, whereby said member ismoved at a predetermined time,

16. An explosive device comprising a body having a chamber therein forreceiving combustible material, said chamberhaving arearwardly-extending opening for permitmember, a charge forransingmovement of said member, impact operated means for gniting saidlast-named charge, releasable means for normally preventing theoperation of said igniting means, means contained in said chamber anddisposed in alinement with said bore for causing the eX- plosion of saidmember, releasable means for normally preventing communication betweensaid bore and said chamber, and a supplemental explosive charge forreleasing said first and second-named preventing means.

ln testimony whereof I, the said RUFUS C. (nawronn, have hereunto set myhand.

RUFUS C. CRAWFORD. Witnesses A. D. P. MlLLnn, CHARLES G. Corn.

